Woman, 70, breached Asbo with racist outburst

A 70-year-old woman breached her Asbo by shouting "there's niggers over there" to a friend, a court heard today.

Lillian Forkner, 70, was banned from using "racist, insulting or abusive language" while in her garden in Liddon Road, Newham, by the order in April 2009.

Prosecutor Fer Chinner told Inner London Crown Court that the pensioner breached the order the following month when she was overheard by next door neighbour Dean Letner using racist language.

Forkner was angry because a friend was unable to park near her house before the outburst in her front garden.

Ms Chinner told the court: "He heard her say 'there's niggers on the left and there's niggers over there."

Mr Letner was playing computer games in his bedroom with the window open when he heard her comments.

He reported Forkner to the local police, who under the terms of her ASBO cannot use abusive language in her garden while in the earshot of her neighbours.

She is also banned from using such language while travelling on public transport or on foot anywhere in the borough of Newham.

In police interview Forkner said she could not remember the day in question and denied using any racist language.

Giving evidence by video link, Forkner said when angry she would "do me nut", but denied using swear words or racist language.

Her friend Mandy Palmer visited regularly from Brentwood in Essex and Forkner was upset when there was nowhere to park on May 22 last year.

She said: "I felt very annoyed and very upset because Mandy lives at Brentwood and she comes down to see me and she's got nowhere to park."

The court heard that she did not speak to Mr Letner because they did not get on, and was "frightened" to go out in her garden because of this.

She said: "He gets on my nerves, it's a wonder I don't tear every hair out of my head."

The trial was adjourned to tomorrow.